U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Injuries, Illnesses, and Fatalities

OSH Overview

The Bureau of Labor Statistics annually reports on the number
of workplace injuries, illnesses, and fatal injuries. Such information
is useful in identifying industries with high rates or large numbers
of injuries, illnesses and fatal injuries both nationwide and separately
for those States participating in this program.

Since 1972, the survey has reported annually on the number of
workplace injuries and illnesses in private industry and the frequency
of those incidents. With the 1992 survey, BLS began collecting
additional information on the more seriously injured or ill workers
in the form of worker and case characteristics. At that time,
BLS also initiated a separate Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries
to count these tragic events more effectively than had been possible
in the survey.

Summary data
which reports on the number and rate of injuries
and illnesses by industry.

Case and demographic data which provides additional details
on the worker injured, the nature of the disabling condition,
and the event and source producing that condition for those cases
that involve one or more days away from work.

Fatal injury data which provides information on 28 separate data
elements including information on the worker, the fatal incident,
and the machinery or equipment involved.